….Leadership requires more than milquetoast comments, i.e. ‘we can’t do anything about it’; ‘it is a done deal’, etc. I can give Chuck Williams a pass because he was too late to the party. However, Williams has to start answering questions and commenting though or he may be in trouble… ….the McKillip Takeover has been rumored and apparent for months. I would have been raising “HECK” were I still in office…
….The redistricting shows lack of real clout of Oconee County, in spite of a parade of candidate barbecues promoted by the GOP, Rotary, Chamber, Tom Little et al.

Oconee County has been sliced and diced for the sole purpose of guaranteeing reelection of Doug McKillip, an Athens resident. The county will rue the day this happened. I have been involved and following Oconee politics and elections for over 40 years. The Republicans have hurt Oconee as much as Democrats of the past. Four counties were used to provide a safe District (117) for Doug McKillip. One has to be pretty presumptuous to accomplish that task!

Leadership requires more than milquetoast comments, i.e. ‘we can’t do anything about it’; ‘it is a done deal’, etc. I also think Hank Huckaby let us down. I can give Chuck Williams a pass because he was too late to the party. However, Williams has to start answering questions and commenting though or he may be in trouble.

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The McKillip Takeover has been rumored and apparent for months. I would have been raising “HECK” were I still in office. Had we been as passive in the 90’s, we would not have an interchange at Hwy 78 and GA 316, sidewalks on Epps Bridge Parkway etc. It again demonstrates a lack of knowledge and appreciation of the County’s history on the part of many of our leaders.

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I have heard citizens express frustration and helplessness about the situation. Our elected officials have a higher responsibility to represent us. The redistricting shows lack of real clout of Oconee County, in spite of a parade of candidate barbecues promoted by the GOP, Rotary, Chamber, Tom Little et al. Such stuff is farcical and superficial in the real world. It does not mean SQUAT if we have so little clout on redistricting! With the new districts we will have even less clout.

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Our Sheriff Scott Berry is currently President of the Georgia Sheriff’s Association. Our Chairman Melvin Davis is the current President of the Association of County Commissioners. One would expect this to have helped Oconee at the State level. It seems these positions are largely ceremonial and are achieved as much by staff selection and longevity as opposed to leadership achievements.

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DOUG MCKILLIP

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I have never met Mr. McKillip although, for several years, he had a law office a couple of buildings down from mine in Resource Valley Office Condos. I saw him driving by sometime and sensed a brashness and arrogance reinforced by what I read about him. When he was elected Representative, McKillip moved his office back to Athens. Now that he has soiled that nest he may move back to Oconee. Doug McKillip- Letters to Editor -8.18.11; http://www.onlineathens.com/letters/

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Oconee has been Hoodooed! It is obvious that McKillip is a ‘favorite’ of Speaker Ralston’s. It is hard to understand why. He switched parties after been reelected as a Democrat and being elected chair of the House Democratic Caucus. The man is unreliable. What are his principles and values? Persons who know him say he is a liberal – far more than the average Oconee County voter. I would not want to be a foxhole partner with McKillip.

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As more and more details come out, it is apparent that Oconee is being sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. Clarke County will have more voters than Oconee County in the Chuck Williams district.

…. In the proposed 119th, Oconee County has 49.8 percent of the registered voters, with Clarke County having the remaining 50.2 percent.

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In effect, Clarke County may have three representatives but only the population for two. Oconee and Morgan or Oglethorpe with a tad of Clarke County would have made up a district of 53,820 citizens.Look at the population figures.

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What Can Citizens Do?

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We can and should express displeasure to all of our elected officials. While most of us can’t vote in McKillip’s district, we can contribute to and support his opponent. Someone will take him on. He has a lot of enemies in Athens-Clarke County. Oconee should be upset at his blatant disregard of our desires. Forget about qualifications etc, trustworthiness is more important. I will support a Democrat over McKillip. We need to light some fire under him and any officials complicit in the matter.

State Rep. Doug McKillip, R-Athens, lied to his constituents when he ran as a Democrat during the last election. He took money from his donors under false pretenses, which in any field other than politics would be a crime.

…..My question is, why should anyone believe a word this man says, given his history?

McKillip has a constituency of one -- himself -- and his primary interest is furthering his own political career.